The U.S. women's national team won the SheBelieves Cup for the fifth time. The tournament was more about playing the kids than lifting the trophy. The head coach gave chances to players who haven't yet earned a spot on the USWNT or are trying to win a USWNT spot back.
Who rose their stock after taking advantage of the opportunity? Who will need a chance to prevent the stock drop from happening if they didn't see it?
Catarina Macario, FW
Macario was a player in the USWNT pool with huge upside, but yet-untapped potential, on the senior international stage. In the past, Macario had been put into a role that was not the best for him. She's so good with the ball at her feet that she creates chances for the players around her, and she's willing to put in the work on the defensive side of the ball too. She got a chance to play at the SheBelieves, the center forward position, and it showed.
She was sensational in the final game of the USWNT, finding seams to attack and showing on-field chemistry with her teammate. It took Macario a little while to get there because he was playing a new role.
We saw from Game 1 to Game 3 how Cat grew, but we mostly saw how the team grew around her in understanding her movements, her positioning, the angles, the balls she was playing.
Ashley Sanchez, MF
Even if her two assists were nothing to sneeze at, the eye test didn't let her down, even though she didn't get the chance to show up on the stat sheet as much as some of the other attackers. She was aggressive and confident when she had the ball at her feet. She was fun to watch and unpredictable for opponents because she was unafraid to try new things.
She has earned the chance to play for the USWNT against some better competition, and it will be interesting to see how she handles that. The USWNT can expect to see parked buses and low blocks when they face Uzbekistan in April and then in July when they compete in the World Cup and the Olympics.
Such defenses could be unlocked by a player likenchez.
Mallory Pugh, FW
It's hard to argue with what Bill Connelly said about Pugh's statistics in the SheBelieves Cup. Over the course of the three games, she was the top ranked USWNT player in expected goals, expected assists, winning aerial battles, and crosses completed. The way she played impressed not only her statistics, but also her demeanor.
Although she won a World Cup in a substitute role, she has fallen out of favor with the national team, even though she has already made it. Her form was poor and her hunger was questioned. She played like she wanted to be there and prove a point as she chased down balls, backtracked to defend and put in the work. She was the leader of the USWNT's field players.
Emily Fox, DF
Fox had a good chance of raising her stock in the SheBelieves Cup. Why? The USWNT does not have another left-back. Even though she has been an attacker throughout her career, Crystal Dunn is pregnant. For whatever reason, the USWNT's backup right-back has been Kelley O'Hara, who has never been able to win the spot.
If Fox played poorly, Andonovski might have had a big problem. Luckily for him, Fox showed up. She looked comfortable pushing forward and getting involved in the attack. It is one thing to push up against a team that isn't threatening anyway, but a better team makes the job much more complicated. She will get the chance to take that test.
There is still work to be done regarding the USWNT equal pay.
Alana Cook, DF
It is more difficult to get excited about a center-back's performance compared to attackers who can score goals or beat defenders with flair. The SheBelieves Cup, where the USWNT faced the Czech Republic, New Zealand and Iceland, failed to really test the backline.
Cook showed she deserves another chance with the national team. Per Opta, she was the top player in the USWNT in a number of areas. She did look steady and dependable, so Andonovski may want to test her against teams that will attack more.
Trinity Rodman, FW
It would have been tempting for those who have been watching her in the NWSL to hope for a big performance in the SheBelieves Cup. She wasn't even supposed to be on the roster for the tournament until an injury to defender Abby Dahlkemper.
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The reason why Rodman had been excluded initially was clear, and Andonovski wanted to give her a chance to slowly adjust to the system, to the structure and to absorb information slowly step by.
Rodman played a total of 64 minutes over the course of the tournament, coming off injured in the second game after a knock to the knee. She did not play in the third and final game because of the injury. She had chances, but seemed a little too eager to try and force something. Rodman will get his time, but Andonovski said to be patient.
Tobin Heath, Christen Press, Megan Rapinoe, FW
Alex Morgan is still in her spot despite what the young players at the SheBelieves Cup showed. No one has proven they can match her contributions back-to-goal, along with her ability to race in behind back lines and muscle off defenders. Christen Press and Megan Rapinoe are two of the veteran attackers who can make magic from the touchlines.
In the past, the USWNT only had one or two players who could change the game with brilliance, but it looks like the next generation has plenty of these players. It is not a given that players like Heath and Press will retain their spots, but they can do something other players cannot.
Many of the players at the SheBelieves Cup look like they are learning from their predecessors, and that will create some interesting battles.
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